UCL – DIS Summer School for Students of Black Heritage Backgrounds: 16–18 July 2025 by Dr. Danny Onah

The inaugural UCL Summer School for Students of Black Heritage Backgrounds was held from 16–18 July 2025, providing a unique platform for students to develop technical, academic, and professional skills in an engaging and supportive environment. The program included sessions on cyber security, programming, academic writing, database systems, and data science, complemented by motivational talks and interactive activities.

DAY 1 – Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Day 1 began with a warm welcome session led by Dr Daniel Onah, the Summer School coordinator, setting an inspiring tone for the program.

CYBER SECURITY

The morning featured a Cyber Security session delivered by Dr Jason Nurse from the University of Kent. The session was thought-provoking and interactive, covering fundamental concepts such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA), as well as strategies to understand and prevent cyber-attacks. Key topics included phishing, ransomware, DDoS attacks, social engineering, and the exploitation of human vulnerabilities. Students appreciated the informative content and engaging delivery.

PYTHON PROGRAMMING

In the afternoon, students participated in an Introduction to Python Programming session led by Dr Daniel Onah. This session combined theoretical foundations with practical exercises, gradually introducing students to core Python concepts. Topics included variable naming conventions, control structures (if, else, for loops, while loops), error and exception handling, functions, and lists and other container structures. The interactive format allowed students to gain hands-on experience, building both conceptual understanding and practical skills in programming.

Day 1 successfully combined essential technical knowledge in Cyber Security and Python Programming with an engaging, participatory, and hands-on learning environment.

DAY 2 – Thursday, 17 July 2025

After the opening session led by Dr Daniel Onah, Day 2 began with an inspiring motivational talk by Hafsa, who shared her academic journey at UCL and her current role at IBM. Her presentation encouraged questions and discussions, motivating students to reflect on their own academic and professional paths.

ACADEMIC WRITING AND STUDY SKILLS

This was followed by an interactive session on Academic Writing and Study Skills led by Dr Elaine Pang from Arden University. Students received practical guidance on academic writing principles, study skills, and effective presentation techniques. The session covered proper referencing of academic articles, writing structure, critical thinking skills, and presentation skills that could be used as a form of assessment, helping students gain confidence in academic communication.

VISIT TO LONDON SCIENCE MUSEUM

Later in the day, participants visited the London Science Museum, where they explored scientific and technological innovations, including contributions from scientists, engineers, and people of Black heritage. Students connected their learning to real-world innovations and historical achievements, making the experience both educational and inspiring.

Day 2 successfully combined an inspiring motivational session, Academic Writing and Study Skills development with an exploratory visit to the London Science Museum.

DAY 3 – Friday, 18 July 2025

Day 3 began with an inspirational and motivational session led by Dr Daniel Onah, the Summer School coordinator, setting an energizing tone for the final day.

DATABASE SYSTEMS

The morning focused on Database Systems, led by Dr Karen Stepanyan. Students were introduced to Structured Query Language (SQL) and the fundamentals of relational databases, including logical and physical representations of database schemas. Participants engaged in hands-on activities such as creating databases, defining tables, populating records, and querying information. The session provided practical experience in managing and interrogating databases to extract meaningful insights.

DATA SCIENCE

In the afternoon, students explored Data Science with Dr Maad Owaifeer from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. The session covered key concepts in data science and analysis, manipulation, and visualization. Participants worked with raw datasets, learning techniques for data preparation, cleaning, and identifying patterns and relationships. The session also introduced descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency, data visualization, interpretation techniques, and a simple introduction to machine learning Linear Regression applications. The interactive approach allowed students to apply concepts practically and deepen their understanding of data science fundamentals.

Day 3 successfully combined essential technical knowledge in Database Systems and Data Science with an engaging, hands-on laboratory practical learning experience.

CLOSING CEREMONY

The 2025 UCL-DIS Summer School for Students of Black Heritage Backgrounds was a resounding success, seamlessly combining technical skill development, academic enrichment, and professional inspiration. Over the course of the programme, participants gained valuable expertise in cyber security, programming, database systems, data science, and academic writing, while also benefiting from motivational guidance and hands-on learning experiences.

The Summer School showcased the exceptional talent, creativity, and potential of students of Black heritage at UCL, fostering an environment of growth, collaboration, and innovation. It has laid a strong foundation for future initiatives that will continue to drive world-leading educational impact, knowledge expansion, and societal and economic progress.

At the Closing Ceremony, all participants, including students, academics, teaching assistants, and administrative staff, were formally recognised with a certificate of participation, celebrating their dedication, curiosity, and achievements throughout the programme.

Congratulations once again to all involved for making this year’s Summer School an inspiring and memorable success!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Teaching Assistants
Our sincere gratitude goes to the teaching assistants: Ravis Desai, Daniel Corken, Vaishnavi Paritala, Maxym Sjachyn, and Shun Mak, for their invaluable guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the programme.

Department and Administrative Staff
We extend heartfelt thanks to our dedicated administrative colleagues: Terrie Fiawoo, Lucy Bird, Sarah Davenport, Tasmin Islam, Ian Evans, and Ena Wehr, for their outstanding support in ensuring the smooth delivery of the Summer School.

We extend our appreciation to Emma Gutteridge-Xu (Faculty of Arts and Humanities).

We also acknowledge Elizabeth Lomas (Former Head of Department) and Samantha Rayner (Former Deputy Head of Department) for their continued encouragement and support.

Funding
This programme would not have been possible without the generous support of the UCL Student Success Fund, whose funding made the organisation of the Summer School possible.

Participants

A big congratulations once again to all UCL Black students and participants for your outstanding achievements, collaboration, and dedication throughout the summer school event. Your hard work and commitment have not only made the programme a success but also highlighted the strength of community and excellence at UCL. We are incredibly proud of what you have accomplished and look forward to seeing your continued impact.

Daniel Onah, PhD

Summer School Coordinator